Google buys startup that helps your phone identify objects
Google has purchased Moodstocks, a French startup that specializes in speedy object recognition from a smartphone, showing (again) the search giant’s intense interest in AI. Unlike other products (including Google’s own Goggles object recognition app) Moodstocks does most of the crunching on your smartphone, rather than on a server. While Google seemingly has some pretty good image-spotting tech already, like the canny visual categorization in Photos, it says it’s just getting started.
“There is still a long way to go [with machine learning], and that’s where Moodstocks comes in,” the company said in a blog post (translated). The deal seems to fall in to the “aqui-hire” category, as Moodstocks will cease its own recognition services, and its team of engineers will join Google at its R&D center in Paris. Google is rumored to be working on a feature that allows Android users to search directly from their photos (below), though the company didn’t say if the acquisition is related.
Google isn’t the only company pursuing deep learning and image recognition. Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Amazon and basically most of Silicon Valley are enamored of the tech. It’s already being used in voice recognition apps like Alexa, Cortana and Siri, and image recognition products like Google’s Photos and Microsoft’s Translator app. Other deep learning applications include driverless cars, robotic concierges, cooking, weather forecasting, writing criticism and infinitely more.
Most of those apps rely on powerful servers like IBM’s Watson, but the latest trend is to speed things up by processing data on your device. Apple’s iOS 10, for instance, will rely less on cloud computing and more on the iPhone’s built in horsepower for image recognition. Google’s purchase of Moodstocks appears to be along the same lines, as the startup has expertise in “thick client” computing, which uses a combination of cloud and “on-device” computing.
Via: The Daily Mail
Source: Google France, Moodstocks
Nintendo hints at smartphone controller plans
Nintendo executives have dropped an unsubtle hint that it is working on a peripheral to enable people to play its action games on smartphones. At the firm’s annual shareholders meeting, Shinya Takahashi said that his team have looked at third-party controllers on the market and “may develop something new by ourselves.” Takahashi was responding to the question that playing Nintendo’s more famous titles (i.e. Mario) is difficult using the virtual controls that are available with touchscreen devices. After all, it’s clear that more than a few people would be happy to lay down money to play a classic Mario title on their smartphone.
The advent of a Nintendo-branded peripheral, unlike other devices like Hyperkin’s Smart Boy, is likely to be a big seller. Unfortunately, this was just a single off-hand comment at a shareholder meeting, so we can’t take anything as read. But this is Nintendo, and whenever one of its executives mentions anything, even in passing, people’s ears begin to prick up. Takahashi also said that his division would make “applications and not just action games,” a subtle hint that we’ll see more innovative titles like Miitomo as well as, or instead of, a new iteration of Super Mario. After all, the company is hoping that mobile games will help turn around its flagging business after a few years of slow hardware sales.
Via: Polygon
Source: Nintendo
‘Pokémon Go’ rolls out on Android and iOS
With all the news surrounding Pokémon Go’s beta test and wearable, you’d be forgiven for thinking the full game was already out. Until recently, it wasn’t, but that’s changing if you live in the United States and have an Android device, as spotted by 9to5 Google. Rocking a handset designed in Cupertino? Well, only iPhone owners in Australia have access at the moment so a measure of patience is in order.
The game that brings Pokémon collecting into the real world via developer Niantic Labs’ augmented reality and GPS tech has been gestating for quite a bit. The intent, Niantic CEP John Hanke told us back in June, is to make you feel like you’re venturing out into the world and capturing the pocket monsters for yourself. “You can live the story of being a Pokemon trainer,” he said. Now it’s time to discover how quickly can you catch ’em all.
Via: 9to5 Google
Source: iTunes (Australia), Google Play
The next iPhone reportedly starts with twice the storage
Apple maintained that a 16GB iPhone was enough last year, but the company might be singing a different tune in 2016. A Wall Street Journal source claims that the next iPhone will start with 32GB of storage — at last, buyers of the base model won’t have to be quite so thrifty with their free space. That kind of entry capacity is far from new, of course (HTC, LG, Samsung and others have had 32GB starters for a while), but it’ll be more than welcome if you prefer iPhones and can’t justify more expensive versions.
It’ll certainly feel overdue for some. Apple started offering 16GB base iPhones back in 2009, with the 3GS. That was cavernous at the time, but it gradually became a tighter and tighter fit as apps and media collections grew larger. If you capture 4K video on the iPhone 6s or SE, it chews up 375MB per minute — a 16GB device user could easily run out of room.
The next question: what about other capacities? The insider doesn’t say (and Apple certainly isn’t commenting), but it wouldn’t be surprising if the new iPhone doubled the higher storage tiers to 128GB and 256GB. Notice how the iPad Pro’s options jump straight from 32GB to 128GB and 256GB? While we wouldn’t rule out a different strategy, it’d be consistent if the iPhone had the same storage choices as its bigger-screened siblings.
Via: AppleInsider
Source: Wall Street Journal
Android malware from Chinese ad firm infects 10 million devices
The Android malware Hummingbad has infected 10 million devices so far, but what’s most interesting is where it comes from. First discovered by the security firm Check Point in February, the researchers have tied it to Yingmob, a highly organized Chinese advertising and analytics company that looks like your typical hum-drum ad firm. Once it successfully infects and sets up a rootkit on Android devices (giving it full administrative control), Hummingbad generates as much as $300,000 a month through fraudulent app installs and ad clicks. As Check Point describes it, Hummingbad is an example of how malware companies can support themselves independently.
“Emboldened by this independence, Yingmob and groups like it can focus on honing their skill sets to take malware campaigns in entirely new directions, a trend Check Point researchers believe will escalate,” the researchers say. “For example, groups can pool device resources to create powerful botnets, they can create databases of devices to conduct highly-targeted attacks, or they can build new streams of revenue by selling access to devices under their control to the highest bidder.”
On top of its Hummingbad victims, Yingmob controls around 85 million devices globally. Naturally, the company is also able to sell access to the infected devices, along with sensitive information. And while its attack is global, most victims are in China and India, with 1.6 million and 1.3 million infected users, respectively. iPhone users aren’t safe from Yingmob either — researchers have also found that the group is behind the Yispecter iOS malware.
Via: CNET
Source: Check Point (1), (2)
BlackBerry is finally moving on from its Classic smartphone
BlackBerry is embracing change in a big way, finally moving forward from its BlackBerry Classic smartphone. The writing’s been on the wall for quite some time, but as of today the company has made very clear its intention to strike the phone from its portfolio and wind down operations for the “workhorse device going forward.
According to BlackBerry, the Classic has “long surpassed the average lifespan for a smartphone,” noting that innovation and change is important if we’re to see new and better experiences in the future. BlackBerry itself isn’t the only entity around here that’s chosen to forge a new path.
Just last week, news came out that the U.S. Senate is to trade in BlackBerry devices for iOS and Android phones thanks to a supposed memo where BlackBerry had let slip that all of its OS 10 devices were in fact discontinued.
The company will continue to support its BlackBerry 10 devices via software updates, however. In fact, version 10.3.3 is scheduled for release next month and there’s another one coming next year. It’s an interesting time for BlackBerry fans, especially those who aren’t all about change.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: BlackBerry
Verizon plans are about to get more expensive, report says
Verizon is preparing to roll out new wireless plans with more data, but they’ll come at a higher price, CNET says. The reported changes break down as follows:
- The new “S” plan is $35 a month for 2GB (originally $30 for 1GB)
- “M” is $50 a month for 4GB (originally $45 for 3GB)
- “L” is $70 a month for 8GB (originally $60 for 6GB)
- “XL” is $90 a month for 16GB (originally $80 for 12GB)
- “XXL” is $110 a month for 24GB (originally $100 for 18GB)
This is all part of a rumored overhaul coming to Verizon’s wireless program. According to an image spotted by The Consumerist last week, Verizon will launch a “Carryover Data” program that enables customers to rollover unused gigs into the next month. Plus, Verizon will reportedly roll out a “Safety Mode” that removes overage fees but throttles customers’ internet speeds the moment they eclipse their allotted data usage. Safety Mode will be free for XL and XXL plans, while it’ll cost an extra $5 per month for S, M and L plans, according to the image.
XL and XXL customers may also see calls and messages to Canada and Mexico join their domestic allowances for free, with calls from the US to these countries available at no extra charge.
Verizon has hinted that it will unveil new programs later this week. The company is increasingly competing with Sprint and T-Mobile, two carriers that recently received strong customer satisfaction ratings, as recorded by the American Customer Satisfaction Index. Plus, last month Sprint poached Verizon’s famed “Can you hear me now?” actor for a series of commercials ridiculing his former employer. Ouch.
We’ve reached out to Verizon for clarification on its plans and will update this story as we hear back.
Source: CNET
New York speeds up access to its train ticket mobile app
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority initially promised that smartphone-friendly train ticketing would roll out by the end of 2016, but (unlike some trains) it’s ahead of schedule. Governor Cuomo has revealed that the MTA eTix app will be available to all Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad customers by the end of the summer. The rollout will happen in phases. You can already buy tickets for LIRR’s Port Washington Branch and the Metro-North Hudson line. By August 22nd, there should be a “full system wide implementation” on both railways — you usually won’t have to worry about carrying physical tickets as long as you have an Android phone or iPhone.
The approach won’t be completely seamless. You’ll have to wait until next year to use a single app and account for trips that involve switching to and from New York City’s buses and subways. However, eTix could still be a huge convenience if you like to travel across southern New York state… or just hate carrying easily-lost pieces of paper.
Source: Governor Cuomo
Samsung won me with VR but is losing me with updates
I want to get a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, I really do. I like my Galaxy S6 Edge, with its striking curved screen, and the new model improves on it in nearly every way. Most importantly, I like to dabble in virtual reality — I’m not ready to commit $700+ to a PC-based headset yet — and I can still get a new Gear VR headset free with the S7 Edge. Shamefully, though, my S6 Edge hasn’t received an update to Android 6.01 Marshmallow, leaving me high and dry with Lollipop. I certainly didn’t expect that with a $800 flagship phone, and I refuse to let it happen again.
Marshmallow first came out on Nexus devices in October 2015, and “Nougat,” aka Android 7.0, will probably arrive around the same time later this year. The new release is full of interesting features, including a multi-window mode, improved settings and, most importantly to me, a new VR mode. For those reasons, and also the fact that I like having the latest software, I would like to get it as soon as it arrives.
The S6 Edge came out in early 2015 (I have the international, unlocked version), and some folks have indeed received an Android 6.0 update. To find out if there was a problem with my phone or carrier, I contacted the company’s support line in France, and was told that the release had not rolled out to me yet. So what’s the delay? Some users have reported problems with the fingerprint scanner and passwords after updating, along with slowness and battery issues. If that’s accurate, then Samsung may have decided to work on Marshmallow before releasing it widely.
Does my phone still work with Lollipop? Of course, but that’s not the point. Marshmallow brings a more stylish UI, a memory manager that my phone desperately needs, an improved “do not disturb” function (which I desperately need), per-app battery optimization and more. Also, as someone who likes to have the latest software (and, since I write about it, I kind of need it), I’d really rather not wait for it.
To reiterate, I really like the Galaxy S6 Edge and Gear VR. Samsung wisely partnered with Oculus, and the Gear VR is easily the best mobile virtual reality headset out there. As I mentioned in my mini-review of the original Gear VR Innovator Edition, I love the potential of VR filmmaking (even if creators haven’t quite cracked it yet), and the headset-and-phone combo gives me a way to view content. That includes games like Land’s End and interactive VR films including The Martian VR Experience. In addition, Samsung has created a VR version of its web browser that allows you to see 360-degree videos and other content.
I don’t want to sacrifice VR for the latest updates, but what if I can have both? The best way to make sure you’ve always got the latest Android release is to get a Nexus phone. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a VR option for Nexus that’s even close to as good as what Samsung has — at least, until Android Nougat came along.
For Nougat, Google has created a whole new VR platform called Daydream, and a VR mode with improved performance. It also created a reference headset that looks a lot like the Gear VR, but includes a motion-sensitive remote that resembles the controllers for the Vive and Oculus Rift. Its VR tech will only work on “Daydream-approved” smartphones, which will presumably include the company’s own upcoming Nexus models.
If things go as planned, Google’s VR should be on par with Samsung’s Galaxy S7/Note and Gear VR combination. There is a risk it’ll take Google a while to get to the same level as Samsung, which has a big head start and Oculus behind it. However, Google says that HTC, ZTE, Huawei, LG and, yes, Samsung have Daydream-ready phones in the works, and it’s partnering with HBO, Ubisoft, the NBA and others for content.
Until a few months ago, I was ready to get a Galaxy S7 Edge and the latest Gear VR headset.
This new information has created quite a conundrum for me. Until a few months ago, I was ready to get a Galaxy S7 Edge and the latest Gear VR headset. Now I’ve decided to wait until the fall, when the first Daydream-compliant smartphones and headsets arrive. I’ll continue to use my S6 Edge and Gear VR, and hopefully it’ll get the Marshmallow update before Nougat arrives.
I doubt my own experience is unique. Anyone who drops nearly a grand on a smartphone will want to wring the maximum utility out of it. Samsung delivered a great design, great screen and lots of power with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, and the Gear VR gave users another good reason to consider it. With the discouraging delays to Marshmallow on my S6 Edge, however, I’ve lost confidence in Samsung’s ability to keep its latest model up to date. And once Daydream comes along, it’ll have lost one of the best advantages it had in the Android market.
OnePlus 3 gets a £20 price bump after Brexit madness
As the UK government crumbles before our very eyes, the fallout from the vote to leave the European Union is even starting to impact our beloved gadgetry. OnePlus was eager to warn us last week that the falling value of the British Pound might cause the company to revisit handset pricing — much in the same way a Euro exchange rate slump was reflected in a jump in the cost of the OnePlus One early last year. That warning has become a reality today, with the announcement that as of July 11th, the price of the much-praised OnePlus 3 will increase from £309 to £329.
Before next Monday, though, you can still take advantage of the lower £309 price, and OnePlus has committed to keeping the cost of accessories at their current levels. So, that is what’s happening, but is this knee-jerk reaction really that necessary?
Without getting too economical about the whole thing — and yes, I know that’s incorrect word usage — every international company that sells anything within the UK is feeling exactly the same financial pressures as a result of the devalued pound. And yet, none of them are scrambling to put up prices less than two weeks after the Brexit result. I’m even happy to accept OnePlus survives on “extremely thin [profit] margins,” but not so keen to believe “the simple fact is that there won’t be a OnePlus in the future” if the company doesn’t react to the market like a veteran gunslinger.
OnePlus isn’t a startup. In fact, it’s effectively a subsidiary of Oppo, the fourth largest smartphone manufacturer in the world and itself, a subsidiary of a bigger consumer tech corporation. In short, OnePlus will not thrive or collapse on account of an extra £20 per device. Curiously, OnePlus is also supporting its decision on the basis of the pound to US dollar exchange rate, though it does claim “our expenses are mainly in USD” — curious because OnePlus is a Chinese company headquartered in Shenzhen. Shouldn’t the more important numbers be the pound to Chinese yuan exchange rate, then? For clarity, this has also taken a significant hit following the Brexit vote.
Finally, nothing is forcing OnePlus to move its hard-earned pounds into other currencies before some sort of favourable recovery. That’s unlikely to happen any time soon, however, so OnePlus is actually making a sensible business decision to pass the losses onto the consumer as soon as possible. Just don’t express sympathy for the company for doing so.
Rant over. The OnePlus 3 will cost £329 from next Monday.
Source: OnePlus
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